Evaluation of the anticoccidial effect of traditional medicinal plants, Cinnamomum verum bark and Rumex nervosus leaves in experimentally infected broiler chickens with Eimeria tenella

Rumex nervosus leaves (RNL) and Cinnamomum verum bark (CNB), phytogenic herbs, have received much attention in recent years for their antimicrobial properties; however, there is limited knowledge about their potential anticoccidial functions. The prophylactic effects of RNL and CNB were compared with salinomycin, a standard synthetic anticoccidial agent, in broilers experimentally infected with Eimeria tenella (E. tenella). One-day-old broiler chicks (n = 225) were randomly divided into nine groups. Birds were either fed a basal diet containing 1, 3, or 5 g RNL or 2, 4, or 6 g CNB/kg feed, or treated with salinomycin within the basal diet, or the infected (IUT) or non-infected (UUT) groups were fed a basal diet only. Birds infected (n = 25 bird/group) with 40,000 sporulated E. tenella oocysts/bird at d 21 except UUT. Bodweight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly (p < .05) lower in IUT compared to UUT. On day 7 post-infection (DPI), birds treated with RNL, CNB, or salinomycin had fewer lesions in the caeca and a lower oocyst value, and a higher oocyst reduction rate in the faeces than birds in the IUT. Although RNL was not able to reduce weight loss caused by coccidiosis, CNB at 6 g improved FCR and production efficiency index (PEI) at 7 DPI compared to the infected groups. In conclusion, RNL at 5 g and CNB at 6 g have moderate anti-coccidial activity and could be used to treat poultry coccidiosis in the field. However, more research is needed to identify active ingredients that make it effective compared to commercially available drugs.HIGHLIGHTS Phytogenic feed additives prevented weight loss and caecum pathology in broiler chickens at risk of coccidiosis. Rumex nervosus leaves and Cinnamomum verum bark had similar effects to the coccidiostat salinomycin at high doses. Traditional medicinal plants are potential alternatives to pharmaceutical coccidiostats to promote the health and growth of broiler chickens.